A/N:

I know, I know. I'm a horrible person for taking so long to update - but in the event that I have recently became part of an actual social life, I've been very busy. But no worries, no school or life will take me away from this story. I love it to much to give it up or stop posting anyways. Now, back to the topic of reviews - they really, really help. Constructive criticism. Compliments. Fangirling. Just holler them at me, I'll take anything. And as for the criticisim, I want to remind people that Under My Skin was completely plotted out by a friend of mine and myself before I even wrote it, and The Darkness Among Us is all me, so, no I'm not ripping off LionHeartMisfit's story. Her story is great, but I wouldn't steal it because that is just horrible, and there is no comparison between our stories seeing as they start at different seasons and take completely different turns of events. So while I would appreciate criticism, I will not accept bashing that doesn't even make sense. I know all my readers are awesome, but I felt like I needed to write this out after I got this review on Under My Skin that really got to me.

But you guys are awesome and I love all of you. I'll do my best to update faster, but if I don't, know that I will update eventually.

Trigger Warning: Depression, Suicide.

"I still don't think this is a good idea." Stiles mumbled under his breath as he threw his bag into the backseat of the jeep. Scott frowned as he stood beside him, not really capable of finding the best words to console his friend or even convince him – since Scott wasn't very convinced either with the idea. But Lydia said it was a good idea. And when Lydia wanted something, Lydia got that something.

"I mean, she suddenly decided she's coming back to school next week. Don't you think that taking her to that party is a bit too much for her to handle right now?" Stiles asked as he slammed the door shut and flinched a little at the harshness he used with his jeep, his hand moving over the door to pat it gently. Scott lifted a brow before he turned his attention to Stiles' face again, "Maybe she thinks she's ready?" He offered, and frowned when Stiles sent him a glare.

"I'm telling you, this is the last thing she'd be ready for." Stiles muttered under his breath as he leaned against the jeep. "You should have seen her at the lake the other day...It's just..." Stiles shook his head once as his eyes drifted to the ground, "She was so broken and I didn't know how to help. I didn't even know how I could help. All I could do is let her cry until she got tired, then I drove her home."

Scott chewed at the inside of his cheek, his thumbs moving along the undersides of his shoulder straps before he took a deep breath, "You have to give her some space to figure herself out, Stiles. That's what I did when you…when your mom died. It's not easy."

"I know it's not. But that's not her mom just being gone from her life, Scott." Stiles started as he looked up at his friend, "It's Eva actually being there. Because I remember when she'd woken up in that ambulance, the first thing I saw on her face was…she knew her mother was dead." Stiles shook his head slowly, "And she saw it again. I had to literally peel her off the ground and away from the hallway. But the sight of that, it's an image that will haunt you for life."

Scott nodded once in understanding. He knew what Stiles was coming from, or at least he had an inkling of what he meant. Scott recalled clearly the time he walked in and saw the kanima's tail wrapped around his mother's neck. He remembered it too vividly for his own liking, and he'd sworn from then on to protect his mother from the supernatural world no matter what it took. But that wasn't easy. He knew it wasn't. And just the thought of losing his mother to something supernatural made Scott want to throw up – so he didn't think about it. And he couldn't even start to imagine what must be going on in Eva's mind.

Scott too wanted to help Eva. She was important to Stiles, and Scott really saw her as a good person. Even a friend, despite the fact that he'd never gotten the chance to hang out with her much. And technically, she was part of his pack as well. Scott just felt somewhat helpless, as he usually feels all the time now.

"Maybe it is a good idea, Stiles, who knows." Scott shrugged again as he looked up at Stiles, a surrendering look in his eyes. Neither of them had a better way to help, so they went with Lydia's way. "Did you get her a gift?" Scott tried to change the subject, and Stiles looked up at him, before he pursed his lips and nodded somewhat excitedly. Scott remembered when Stiles used to spend hours at Macy's trying to pick something for Lydia, but whenever Stiles went to go get something for Eva, he knew just exactly what she might like, and it made Scott somewhat proud of his friend.

"I got her this pastel colors kit. She used to tell me about how she only used them once or twice and how fun they were cause they were like chalk and they reminded her of messing around when she was a kid, and I really want something that brings back good memories, right?" Stiles started to ramble on and Scott nodded quickly, then Stiles turned to him, "What did you get?"

"Uh…" Scott started and blinked as he reached to scratch the back of his head, "I was going to go to the mall today?" Scott offered, and Stiles stared agape at him, before he shook his head in disbelief. "Well, what were you going to buy?"

"I don't know…" Scott muttered to himself as his eyes drifted to the ground, and Stiles shook his head once. "You know…I think Eva will need a new sketchbook for the pastel colors I got." Stiles pointed out, and Scott lifted a brow, "You could just give her that." Scott took a deep breath, "I guess that's a good idea." Scott nodded once, before he took a deep breath. "So I'll go look for it?" Scott started hesitantly and lifted a brow, but Stiles rolled his eyes, "No, I already bought it." Stiles told him with a grin as he clapped his hand on his back, "Okay, I have to go home now and get ready since I'm picking Eva up for the party anyways. I'll see you there?" Stiles nodded once as he patted his hand over Scott's shoulder and got into the jeep.

Scott pursed his lips thoughtfully, thinking of what else he could possibly give Eva as he got onto his dirt bike.

Allison had stopped by Eva's place with the dress that Lydia had picked out for her. Eva sat on the bed, legs crossed underneath her with the curlers in her hair. She'd agreed to attend the party Lydia was throwing for her at her lake house – but she didn't know exactly why she did that. Eva wasn't even sure of half the words that left her lips nowadays. It was like she watched herself speak and react with everyone around her. And she didn't even give off much emotion, just the occasional huff of a laugh, or the small nods and head shaking. But that was pretty much it.

"And here it is." Allison smiled as she hung the dress against Eva's wardrobe and revealed it. Eva blinked once and tilted her head, before she flickered her eyes towards Allison's face and she lifted a brow. The dress was pretty – normal. Really, very normal. Not too formal, or too party, it almost looked like an everyday dress.

"If you don't like it you can wear whatever makes you comfortable, you know." Allison pointed out quickly, "It's going to be just us, you know. And we'll just have to tell Lydia that it didn't fit you or something." Allison added encouragingly, and Eva smiled a bit as she shook her head. "The dress is really beautiful." Eva nodded once as she untangled her legs to swing them over the edge of the bed and get up. The physical ache from her healing incision was barely even there – almost gone, perfectly healed. But Eva still felt the pressure and the weight, and it always made it harder to even get up, but she did.

"I guess I wasn't expecting Lydia to pick out something so….normal." Eva pointed out and Allison laughed a little as she stepped forward to help Eva stand up, "It's fine." Eva told her as she held her hands up and straightened up, "I'm fine."

Allison pursed her lips curiously as she watched Eva step forward towards her bed, her eyes scanning the girl's posture just in case she was lying, but the only thing she noticed was how insanely smaller Eva had gotten. "The incision doesn't hurt anymore?" Allison wondered out loud and looked up at Eva, who glanced sideways at her and nodded once with a brief smile. "Yeah, and the doctor said it was healing great. Just about time. I really needed to get back to school." Eva mumbled as she pulled the dress out of the hanger and held it up in front of her.

"So you're ready to go back to school?" Allison asked as she leaned against the wardrobe, and Eva turned to her, before she shrugged, "I don't know. But I can't miss anymore."

"The whole town knows it's your aunt that killed all those people before. Going back to school won't be easy. I know." Allison started, and Eva's eyes flickered up to Allison's face. Allison chewed on the inside of her cheek before she decided to just tell her, "When they discovered that my aunt Kate was the one who caused the Hale fire, I was treated as if I was a psychopath around the school. No one made it easy. Especially when my dad and grandfather insisted we have a public funeral."

Eva stared at Allison silently as she spoke, before she moved back to sit at the edge of the bed again, laying the dress beside her, "But I had Scott at the time." Allison started, "He made it easier. So just…" Allison smiled softly at Eva, "Let Stiles in. Let him be there for you."

"But what if I don't know how?" Eva asked and tilted her head, "What if I don't know how to let people in?" Eva muttered as her eyes drifted to the ground, and Allison frowned a little. "That's for you to figure out." Allison whispered, "But you will. I know you will." Allison smiled at her again encouragingly before she stepped towards the door, "I'm going to get ready, okay?"

Eva breathed out and nodded at Allison, nodding when the girl waved briefly a she closed the door and left. Eva's eyes drifted sideways to the dress that lay on the bed and she took a deep breath. She had to figure it out – somehow. Eva stood up and stepped towards the mirror, staring at herself. She looked…different. Eva met her own reflection's gaze and frowned. She needed to figure it out, and she couldn't possibly figure it out looking like this. Eva's hand reached for the makeup bag that rested untouched on her new dresser for a while now, before she took a deep breath and looked up at the mirror. She remembered what Lydia had said that day, that maybe looking better will make her feel better.

Maybe.

After almost an hour of applying makeup, extricating the curlers from her hair, and finally actually getting into the dress and finding fitting accessories, Eva stared at herself in the mirror. She looked almost like her normal self. Almost – her eyes drifted downward to the dress that didn't exactly hug her torso like it was supposed it. Eva smoothed her hands over the air gaps between the dress and her body, and frowned as her eyes turned to the mirror again. She did lose a lot of weight. Eva had to step back and take a good look at herself, before she heard the doorbell ring. Eva stole one last glance at her reflection before she headed out of the room towards the front door. Eva peered through the magic eye and smiled a little when she saw Stiles, and she stepped back to open the door for him.

Stiles' eyes immediately drifted to Eva's figure when she opened the door, and he felt his heart skip a beat momentarily. It has been a while since he'd seen Eva look this…normal. Or this okay, and the idea of her looking okay so soon actually worried him, but he couldn't help the words the left his lips, "You look beautiful." Stiles breathed out, and Eva smiled a bit at him, before she stepped aside to hold the door open for him, "Come in. My dad is at work. I'll just grab my bag and then we can leave." Eva told him, and Stiles nodded slowly as he walked in and closed the door, watching after her as she headed back to her room.

When Eva had reappeared, she was wearing a leather jacket over her dress and had a small bag draped over her shoulder with her phone in her hand. Stiles took a deep breath, "Did you take your medicine?" He asked first, and Eva gave him a look, "I'll take it when I get home. It's barely even night time." Eva pointed out to the sun still setting outside."

Stiles felt the words burning on the tip of his tongue and he knew he just had to say them, "You don't have to do this if you don't want to, Eva. I know a party is too soon and-"

"It's not a party. It's a gathering." Eva corrected, "It's just us. I hardly call that a party."

"But…" Stiles started hesitantly, "Do...you feel like celebrating your birthday?"

Eva pressed her lips into a small smile, "I'm not celebrating anything…You guys are." Eva whispered, before she stepped past him towards the door to open it, and that's when Stiles knew this attempt to help Eva feel better, or anything at all, was going to be futile. Stiles breathed out a heavy sigh before he followed her outside.

The trip to the lake house wasn't exactly a long one, but since it was through the reserve and Stiles needed to make sure everyone was there when they got there; he stalled on his way. Eva's eyes were staring aimlessly at the sky, the crescent moon still waning into a new moon. Eva's eyes drifted sideways to Stiles, watching him as he drove in silence, the only sound was the soft, quiet music that eluded from the radio.

She remembered what Allison said, about letting Stiles in to make it easier for herself. But could she really do that? Because from where she sat, reaching out to Stiles was as if she had to run a thousand miles, and she was chained to the ground. Eva's eyes flickered to the windshield as they approached the lake house, and she saw the house lit inside and smiled briefly. She could at least pretend to enjoy her time for their sake.

"We're here." Stiles muttered as he glanced sideways at Eva and smiled at her, "You ready?"

"It's just a party." Eva shrugged as she sat up and reached for the door's handle.

"It's not a party, it's a gathering." Stiles couldn't help the quick answer before it left his mouth, and Eva narrowed her eyes as Stiles saw the hint of his Eva there momentarily. "You're a smartass." Eva pointed out with a small smile as she pushed open the door and started to get out. Stiles grinned to himself before he reached for the gift bags from the backseat and hurried out of the jeep to meet Eva by the entrance, reaching out for her hand.

Eva's eyes flickered to Stiles' hand, and she hesitated a little, before she placed her hand in his, and looked up at him – his smile only making her smile a little. Stiles blinked in surprise – maybe this was a good idea after all. Somehow.

Stiles reached out to knock the door, and looked down at Eva just as Lydia opened the door, "I knew the dress would look perfect on you." Lydia started with a grin before she stepped aside to let them in. Eva took a deep breath as she walked in and let Lydia close the door before they followed her towards the dining room.

Everyone was there – Scott, Kira, Allison, Isaac, and even the twins. They were all standing around the table with smiles plastered on their faces, genuine smiles. The table was decorated with the cake in the middle and all the other little things they could eat along with around it. "You guys didn't have to do all of this." Eva started as she glanced sideways at Lydia, who shrugged once and went to stand beside Aiden.

"Alright then." Stiles smiled at Eva before he reached for the matches and lit the candles on the cake. Eva tiled her head as she stared down at the flickering flames of the candles, momentarily she lost her train of thought just by looking at them, before she was brought back to present when she heard the unison singing around her. Eva felt the tears well up in her eyes before she took in a deep breath towards the end of the song and leaned down to blow out the candles.

"Did you make a wish?" Kira asked excitedly, and Eva smiled a little at her, before she nodded once, "I made a wish." Eva breathed out before she looked up at Stiles.

The music started playing after everyone grabbed their own plate, the small living room turning into a dance floor where Lydia and Aiden danced, and soon where joined by Allison and Isaac. Eva watched her friends talk and laugh, and the sight brought a small smile to her face. She felt, maybe even for a fraction of a second that the weight wasn't there – because for once she saw her friends happy because of something that she did.

She glanced back and tilted her head when she saw Kira and Scott talking in the corner by the dining table, before she turned forward and moved towards the back door that led towards the boat house. Eva's eyes flickered to the sky as she walked towards one of the wooden pillars by the boathouse, and she glanced back when she heard someone's footsteps. Stiles came to stand beside her and smiled, "You did them a great favor by coming out tonight." Stiles started as he glanced back at the house, and Eva pursed her lips as she nodded again. "They needed it."

"What about you?" Stiles asked as he looked down at her, "Don't you need it?"

Eva shrugged as her eyes drifted down to the water, "I don't know. Do I?"

"You really want to know what I think?" Stiles started as he looked down at her, and Eva nodded slowly, even though she didn't look up at him. "I think you should give yourself a chance. You should forgive yourself because if you let the guilt eat you up as well as the pain of losing someone…" Stiles let his voice trail off, and Eva tilted her head upwards to look at him.

"But I can't." Eva started slowly, "I can't do anything. I want to…I really do, but I can't."

Stiles frowned and reached out to brush his fingers against her wrist, urging her to talk to him. Eva took a deep breath before she started, "Whenever I start to think that I should try to do something my mom would want me to do…I feel this…weight…pull me down. It's like a sadness that won't let breathe." Eva whispered, "It's like I'm drowning." She eventually concluded and looked up at Stiles, who frowned and then turned to her. "You know that I'll pull you out if you give me the chance, right?"

Eva smiled and nodded once, "I know. I'll try."

"That's all I need." Stiles nodded once and reached down to brush a few stray tendrils out of her face. "I'll go get you something to eat, okay? You haven't eaten your own cake." Stiles told her and lifted both brows at her to dare her to argue, "You said you'd try."

"Fine." Eva breathed out and smiled briefly as she watched him leave. Eva's eyes flickered down to the lake's waters again, and she pulled her brows into a frown. It did feel like she was drowning. Her eyes flickered off the shimmering surface of the water as she found herself stepping forward, the tips of her boots peeking over the edge of the wooden pier.

***Eva didn't know what was driving her to do this – maybe it was the urge to feel it again, what it felt like to drown. So she could feel what it was like to break into the surface and breathe again. Or at least, that's what she hoped would happen. She after all couldn't swim, and someone would have to notice she was doing this. But would it be really so bad if someone didn't notice? Either way, it would benefit the girl. She'd either feel better or feel nothing at all.

With that thought in mind, Eva stepped forward into the air, lifting her head so her eyes could gaze at the starry night for one last time - and she let herself fall into the water.

She didn't feel the sting of the icy water until after a few second of being in it. It felt like little explosives were going off on her skin, numbing every inch of her. Eva let her arms float by her side, opening her eyes slowly, staring off into the darkness of the lake. She didn't even realize how deep the lake was where she jumped until she dared to look up, and saw the surface getting so much far away than what she would have wanted it to be.

Eva felt the panic fill her heart as well as the burning ignited within her chest. Her head started to ache as she sunk into the water. Eva suddenly realized that she did want to break through the surface – she wanted to get out of the water. She wanted to get better. The burning in her chest pressing against her lungs, forcing her to keep her mouth closed, to refuse the water. Both that and the pain in her head knocked the truth back into her. She didn't want to die just yet. It was not her time.

Before her eyes, in the dark water, little snippets of her life played out – memories flashing back to her, begging her to push herself up to the surface. The happy memories she'd had as a child with her family. The ones she made when she moved back to Beacon Hills. Then there were the bad ones too, the ones she tried to so hard to push back and not ever remember again. The memories of watching as her aunt killed her mother – her aunt did it, not Eva. Julia. And Eva was letting Julia win, proving that she was that girl she spoke of to her mother before she killed her.

But Eva wasn't that weak girl. And even if she was, now, she didn't want to be that weak girl anymore.

Frantically, Eva started struggling to get to the surface, trying to put all the pointers from the failed swimming lessons to use. But the boots on her feet made the effect of kicking against the water less effective, and she was still weak. She couldn't do it. Eva pushed her limbs against the water in an attempt to push her body upward, but the air she had held in ran out, and her lips parted – the last thing Eva saw were the bubbles rising above her head as her body relaxed into the cold water.

Scott was just coming out of the lake house when Stiles walked, "Hey, where's Eva? I wanted to talk to her." Scott asked, and Stiles poked his thumb over his shoulder, "She's by the boathouse. I was just about to go get her something to eat." Stiles answered as he moved past Scott into the house.

"Uh, Stiles," Scott called out as he glanced back at Stiles, still holding the door open. "She's not by the boathouse."

"What?" Stiles frowned as he stepped towards the door again, "I just left her there; we were just talking." Stiles started as he stepped out of the backdoor again and there momentarily, his eyes moving over the pier, searching for Eva's figure. "I just left her ther-"

That was when it hit Stiles, It's like I'm drowning.

"She's in the water." Stiles breathed out, his blood running cold in his veins.

"What?" Scott turned to his friend, eyes wide.

"She's…She's in the water, damn it!" Stiles cried out as he pushed past Scott towards the pier, managing to empty his pockets before he looked down at the water, hoping to see something, anything. And he did see something – bubbles, and a silhouette growing smaller. Stiles didn't even hesitate. He took a deep breath, held it in, and jumped into the water.

It wasn't cold, but it was enough to make someone curl up and not want to move. But Stiles didn't have time to dwell on the water's temperature. Despite Stiles' panic, he refrained from thrashing against the water, but dove in after the silhouette until he made out the top of Eva's head. He kicked himself deeper until he wrap his arm around her torso and pull her with him as he kicked his feet and pushed his free arm against the water until he finally broke through the surface.

"Eva, Eva, come on…" Stiles gasped as he held her up, her head lolling back onto his shoulder. His eyes flickered to the pier where Scott leaned down, holding his arms downward to pull Eva onto the pier. Stiles moved in the water with difficulty, but he managed to keep them both above the surface and lifted Eva up so Scott could grab her and pulled her up.

Kira had heard Stiles when he ran towards the water, so she was kneeling beside Scott as he slowly pulled Eva's unconscious body onto the pier. He turned to help Stiles up onto the wooden ledge as Kira hovered around her friend helplessly. Stiles on the other hand moved quickly to her other side, "Eva, come on, don't do this…" He muttered as he pressed his hands on her chest, trying his best to remember how to pace the compressions. "Come on, Eva. Don't do this to me again. Don't do this to me again." Stiles kept on whispered on and on as he felt his eyes well up with tears, before his eyes flickered to her lips, and he tilted her chin up, gentling holding her nose as he leaned down to press his lips to cold ones.

Stiles blew the air into her mouth and pulled back, and just as he did, Eva coughed out the water, tilted her head sideways. Stiles hurried to help her sit up so she could breathe, his hands moving to hold the tops of her arms, "Just breathe, Eva. Just breathe, I'm here. Just breathe." He begged her as she gasped for breath, before with shaking hands she wiped the water from her eyes and coughed into her hands. Stiles watched as she managed to clear her airways and push her hair out of her face to finally open her eyes to look up at him.

"I'm sorry…" She whispered, the first words that ever occurred to her to say, "I'm so sorry." Eva whimpered as she leaned her head into Stiles chest and wrapped her arms around his torso to hold onto him, and Stiles breathed out as he closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around her tightly, pulling her into his chest. His hand moved to back of her head, holding her close, his other hand wrapped around her torso. Stiles pressed his lips to her temple before he tucked her head underneath his chin and looked up to flicker his gaze between a relieved Kira and a concerned Scott, before he closed his eyes again.